RadioCult lays out three ways online stations can launch a mobile app

RadioCult says online radio stations can choose among a shared aggregator app, a white-label add-on or a custom build to reach listeners on phones. The company’s new guide highlights cost, control and maintenance tradeoffs as stations weigh how quickly they can get live audio, schedules and chat into mobile.

Why it matters: - Online radio stations increasingly need a mobile presence so listeners can stream audio, check schedules and chat from their phones. - The app choice affects cost, design control, ongoing maintenance and how quickly a station can get onto iOS and Android. - For independent and community stations, the decision can determine whether mobile access is affordable or a major software project.

What happened: - RadioCult broke down three routes for stations that want a mobile app: a shared aggregator app, a white-label mobile add-on and a fully custom app. - The company published the guidance in its guide on how to make a radio app. - RadioCult also offers its own radio station mobile app feature.

The details: - A shared aggregator app lets listeners download one app, search for a station and favorite it. - The station appears inside the app without a separate build or app store submission to manage. - RadioCult’s radio station mobile app uses this model and is included free on every plan. - The app connects directly to a station’s stream on iOS and Android. - The feature includes live audio, schedule information, built-in chat and track recognition. - RadioCult says the app supports unlimited concurrent listeners. - A white-label mobile add-on produces a lightly branded app with limited customization. - A custom app is built from scratch for a single station. - A custom build gives full control over design and features. - RadioCult’s guide says a custom build typically starts around $10,000 upfront. - The same route also carries ongoing costs for maintenance, updates and app store compliance on both iOS and Android. - RadioCult says the custom option tends to make sense only for stations with a large or highly dedicated audience. - The company says its platform is built for multi-presenter stations. - RadioCult’s broader platform includes live and automated broadcasting, radio-native scheduling, station and artist management, a free listener app on iOS and Android, and unlimited concurrent listeners. - RadioCult’s pricing starts at $33 per month. - The company says human support is included. - RadioCult’s guide and mobile app feature are available on its website. - The company’s website is Learn more. - RadioCult also links to its social accounts on Instagram, Facebook and X.

Between the lines: - The shared-app model lowers the barrier for stations that want mobile access without funding a standalone product. - The custom-build option remains a premium path for stations that need branding control and can absorb software ownership costs. - RadioCult is positioning its free listener app as a middle ground that delivers core mobile features without the expense of a custom project.

What’s next: - Stations weighing a mobile app will likely compare upfront price, long-term maintenance, branding needs and audience size before choosing a route. - RadioCult is likely to keep using its guide and free app feature to steer stations toward the shared-app model. - Stations that need more control can still pursue a custom build if the audience and budget support it.

The bottom line: - For many stations, a shared mobile app covers the basics. A custom app is the costly option for stations that want full ownership of the listener experience.